What started out as a simple photo turned into a bit of a research project on a woman that died 136 years ago, and it brought to mind a few lines I read one time: "There'll be two dates on your tombstone. But all that will matter is the little dash in between them." This is a stone portrait carving of Lucretia Hart Smith. Hers is one of two faces visible from that side of a four sided stone monument. To the left of this carving is Lucretia's mother, Chenoe Hart Smith. It was late in the day and in the mad rush to get a few shots before the last rays of the late afternoon sun disappeared it never occurred to me to see what, if anything else was carved on the other sides. So I will have to return. There's a marker for Col. John Smith, her father, a few feet from this monument. He is the only Revolutionary War soldier known to be interred in Memphis. Chenoe Hart Smith is rumored to be the first white child born in Kentucky. Her name Chenoe is the Indian name for the area we now call Kentucky. Not much is known about Lucretia. She was one of seven children; never married. We know her birth and death dates, but nothing else about the "dash" in between. It's rare to see two females memorialized this way, though I suspect this is so because Lucretia dedicated the later part of her life, if not the majority of her life, to taking care of her elderly mother who lived to the age of 90! She died in 1870 and Lucretia soon followed just one year later! Photo taken at Elmwood Cemetery in October. Thanks to Leah for her research work. Thanks for stopping by! marshall